Yes, I'm talking about the Pex crimped connectors...the ones that look like a wedding band when affixed. Sharkbite sells a special hand tool to remove them but I am hoping someone has figured out a way to remove them using 'regular' hand tools.

It depends on what you want to do. The easiest way is to cut the PEX at the end of the "barb" and then slit the ring with a hacksaw. with the regular tool, you also cut the PEX, then the tool inserts into the fitting and it "severs" the band when you squeeze the handles.

Not sure if you are using the same kind as me, but
If you look carefully, the entire ring is actually a strip of stainless that is held together by a single tang.
If you bend the tang over, or just pull on the end of the strap with needle nose pliers you can take the ring off
without actually cutting or breaking the metal.

ONe thing never mentioned with reference to the original question is that you should NEVER destroy the fitting, unless you are some kind of 600# gorilla who thinks brute force solves all problems. However,You will almost always destroy the short piece of the PEX where it is slid onto the fitting, .